DEA, UofL School of Medicine hold panel on heroin epidemic

UofL and the DEA hosted a panel of experts on heroin crisis. (Source: WAVE 3 News)

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - The heroin epidemic in Kentucky is a public health emergency. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, the Commonwealth ranks fourth in the country when it comes to drug overdoses.

UofL hosted a panel on Thursday to discuss the crisis.

The DEA and the UofL School of Medicine hosted experts from the medical and law enforcement fields to address the crisis. Adding to the overdose rate, the powerful narcotic fentanyl. Often, heroin users don't know their batch is cut with that drug.

"We lose a person a day to an overdose," John Kuhn, U.S. Attorney for western District of Kentucky said. "Most of those are due to heroin and its cousin fentanyl."